Priest-physician in ancient Egypt

Medicine was called “the Necessary Art” in Egypt and supported by the Per-Ankh, “the House fo Life,” and by schools of training and research.

Most general practitioners of Egyptians medicine were priests educated in medical techniques ranging from trauma to gynecology and many specialized in particular fields. Priest-physicians who healed are called wabu; lay physicians were called sunu.

Priest-physicians were expected to conduct a detail examination of the patient in order to observe symptoms and elicit signs.

The physician noted general appearance, experience, color, swelling, stiffness, movement, odors, respiration, perspiration, excretions and listened to the patient’s account of the history of the illness. The physician was allowed to touch the patient to study the quality of the pulse, abdomen, tumors, and wounds.

Priest of the goddess Sekhmet treated a wide array of diseases, except for eye disorders which were treated by the priests of Douaou. When a man was bitten by a snake, the priest-physician was called in and he took from the temple library the manuscript about the myth of Ra his mother Isis and recited it.
Priest-physician in ancient Egypt